Member Spotlight: Nina Rihn
We've brought back the Member Spotlight series so we can all get to know each other better. Do you know a WLIA colleague that you think people should know? Let us know via e-mailing us at communications@wlia.org with their contact information. We may not get to everyone, but we'll try!
It's a great pleasure to introduce Nina Rihn, a dedicated GIS professional who has served as the GIS Data Administrator for the Wisconsin DNR for the past nine years. She’s shown her support for our organization by volunteering for committees and after the 2025 annual meeting, she stepped up to take on the roles of both a board member and co-chair of the Communications Committee.
If you’ve had the opportunity to speak with Nina, you know she's a fantastic conversationalist who is as intelligent as she is easygoing and full of surprises. For those who haven't yet had the chance, this is the perfect time to get to know this GIS professional, whose dynamic career is matched only by her wildly cool hobbies and interests.
How did you come to your current profession or job?
I actually started as an LTE in the DNR GIS Section 25 years ago, with a whole year of ArcEdit command line digitizing already on my resume! After 7 years moving around within DNR LTE positions, gaining tons of experience maintaining datasets and repositories and making data and maps, I moved on to a whole new world, the Department of Military Affairs, where I got to manage real property GIS data and create my first app (Flex!), and travel all over the country meeting my National Guard counterparts from the other states. So many accents, but my Wisconsin one got the most comments, I think. After 7 wonderful years at DMA, I moved on to do similar work for the UW-System Administration and visit several of the Universities of Wisconsin’s campuses to learn about their facilities, which was so interesting. Now, for the past nine years I have brought all of that experience back to my old, familiar home, DNR, reconnecting with old colleagues, connecting with many new ones, and making as much of a difference as I can.
Wow, I didn’t realize that had been your trajectory - what a neat range of work. Is there something you learned from or took from your experience working at the Department of Military Affairs that you think has served you well in proceeding positions?
I got a pretty good understanding of property asset management, which translates to a lot of areas and allows me to give much better data consultation to my colleagues. I also got way less afraid of flying.
What’s your most favorite part and least favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is connecting the dots amongst DNR’s broad range of GIS users.
My least favorite part of my job is not getting to build apps and make maps much anymore, but at least I can still provide guidance and live vicariously though my colleagues
What’s the best advice someone has ever given you?
It’s not always about you.
What do you like to do for fun? (Hobbies, volunteer work, etc)
I love to shoot pool, and do so multiple times a week, and also love to play pickleball and golf. Give me a good concert any day, outdoor ones are the best! I also like to read, crochet, and watch funny TV shows. I am learning German on the Duolingo app. Danke für die Frage!
Love your hobbies! Have you ever played a pool shark? Any plans to go to Germany, or have you been before?
I have played many pool sharks and taught lessons to many who were just trying to be one. ;-) I have no immediate plans to go to Germany but if I did, I would be able to ride the train there and ask where the bathrooms are!
What’s something most people wouldn’t guess about you?
I’m a metalhead!
Oh awesome! You’re the second metalhead I’ve interviewed in the past few months. Did you ever play in a band? Or are there any bands that you think go to 11?
Yes, as a matter of fact I played in my high school marching band (French horn)! A couple of bands I think bring it every time are Avatar and Korn.
Where would you most like to travel to and why?
Anywhere warm, with a beach and/or swimming pool to unwind.
I haven’t really done a vacation like that before, but I’ve been talking to my partner about doing a vacation like that next year. Are there any places that you’ve been that you would recommend? What made that place/those places special?
I have been to the Dominican Republic four times. There are beautiful beaches all over the western hemisphere, but the Dominican people have always been so friendly and welcoming and a big part of that being a repeat destination.